Domestic Module Manufacturing: PV Globalization or Political Vote-Seeking?

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 19:35 (Renewable Energy World)

Despite 2011 having been a particularly challenging year for PV cell and module manufacturers, new small-scale module manufacturing facilities continue to be implemented, especially in emerging markets. In some cases, these companies/facilities are either aligned to local government policies or are implemented purely as diversification strategies. Other examples are joint-ventures between private and government entities. Such JV's are intended to represent "national" centers-of-excellence to serve domestic or regional market demand. Read more

Romag will open London-based warehouse

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 17:29 (Solarpowerportal)

UK solar module manufacturer Romag is set to open a London-based distribution warehouse in order to better-serve its installer network. Read more

PJM Interconnection reaches 1 GW of installed PV

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 12:28 (Solarserver)

On May 15th, 2012 regional transmission organization PJM Interconnection LLC (Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S.) announced that the region which it serves has installed 1 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity. The company notes that this PV capacity more than doubled in each of the last two years and continues to grow, with the highest concentrations in the U.S. states of New Jersey and Delaware. The organization's service area covers nearly all of seven U.S. states in the East Coast and Midwest, and portions of six others. Read more

Clean Power Research releases new fleet analysis tool

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 12:22 (Solarserver)

On March 15th, 2012 Clean Power Research (Denver, Colorado, U.S.) announced the release of a fleet analysis tool based on high resolution irradiance data, which it says provides a new level of insight into the impact of distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) generation of grid operation. The company says that its SolarAnywhere FleetView enables utilities and system operators to affordably and reliably integrate distributed PV into the grid, reducing costs for utility customers in the process. The tool has received accolades from reviewers including the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Read more

PV manufacturing equipment: SCHMID unveils new application tool for tin busbars

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 12:17 (Solarserver)

On May 15th, 2012 the SCHMID Group (Freudenstadt, Germany) announced the sales launch of a system for the application of busbars on 152 mm solar photovoltaic (PV) cells, based on the application of tin backside contacts in the place of silver. SCHMID plans to deliver its first TinPad systems in September 2012. The company states that by eliminating the use of silver manufacturers can achieve savings of USD 0.06 per wafer, as well as increasing cell efficiency by roughly 0.2% through a new backside architecture. Read more

Moser Baer margins improve 4Q FY 2012, will restructure USD 738 million in debt

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 12:07 (Solarserver)

On May 11th, 2012 Moser Baer India Ltd. (New Delhi, India) released results for its most recent financial quarter, reporting net sales of INR 446 crore (USD 82 million), a -0.9% operating margin, and a loss of INR 59.6 crore (USD 10.9 million). The company's fourth quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2012 ended on March 31st, 2012, and its margins represent a substantial improvement over the previous quarter. Moser Baer has emphasized its progress in commissioning solar photovoltaic (PV) plants during FY 2012. On May 15th, 2012 Bloomberg reported that the company is planning to restructure USD 738 million in loans and bonds, and expects to reach an agreement with banks to restructure Read more

31 Percent Anti-Dumping Tariffs Announced for Chinese Solar Panels

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 20:35 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.S. Department of Commerce on Thursday announced stiff anti-dumping tariffs of around 31 percent on crystalline silicon solar panels imported from China, leading to a new round of concerns on how the duties will impact the growing American solar industry. Read more

Satcon supplies 30MW to Puerto Rican solar park

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 18:52 (PV-Tech)

Satcon will supply 30MW of its Equinox Prism Platform to Western Wind and Lord Electric. The inverters will be installed at a solar power park in Puerto Rico, the company has announced. Read more

Can the Voice of Solar Shine Brighter?

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 17:46 (Renewable Energy World)

Solar manufacturers and installers face the same challenge as many business owners: How can a company make time for media outreach as part of their overall marketing strategy? With so many other tasks vying for our time and dollars, making connections with the media, which is one of the best forms of free publicity, is often forgotten about. Why? Read more

UK solar industry welcomes FiT cut delay

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 16:36 (Solarpowerportal)

The UK solar industry has welcomed this morning?s confirmation that the Department of Energy and Climate Change?s (DECC) will delay the next round of feed-in tariff cuts. Some of industry?s most influential spokespeople have come out in support of the move, which means cuts due to go ahead on July 1 will now be delayed. Read more

China Sunergy supplies Bulgarian PV plant with 5MW of modules

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 13:04 (PV-Tech)

China Sunergy has announced that it has supplied the Bulgarian Yerussalimovo solar park with 5MW of VP modules. In total, China Sunergy has shipped 22.32MW of panels to Bulgaria since the beginning of 2012, exceeding the company?s 18MW shipments to Bulgaria in 2011. The panels were sold to Mitsubishi and Helios Power acted as installer of the modules. Read more

KACO, Ampt team up to increase solar inverter power output and reduce PV system costs

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 12:47 (Solarserver)

On May 14th, 2012, KACO new energy (San Francisco, California, U.S.) announced that it partnered with Ampt LLC (Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.) to offer commercial and utility-scale inverters that decrease system cost and lower the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Under the partnership, KACO's inverters will be optimized to operate in Ampt Mode, when deployed in conjunction with Ampt's module-level DC/DC converters, resulting in an inverter cost savings of up to 40% or more. Read more

Jinko Solar introduces WING series PV modules

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 12:42 (Solarserver)

On May 15th, 2012, Jinko Solar Holding Co. Ltd. (Shanghai, China) announced that it has unveiled its "WING" series solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. The new modules are a significant upgrade to the company's lineup of premium solar modules for residential and commercial applications, Jinko Solar emphasizes. The WING series modules due to the producer are thinner than any similar product on the market, at only 30 to 40 millimeters. The 0.5 kilogram lightweight modules are optimized for ground mount systems, also ideal for rooftop applications. Read more

EMCORE awarded yet another NASA PV manufacturing contract

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 12:37 (Solarserver)

On May 15th, 2012, EMCORE Corp. (Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.), which provides compound semiconductor-based components and subsystems for the fiber optic and solar power markets, announced that it has received a solar panel manufacturing contract from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for its Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission targeted for launch in late 2014. Read more

Sharp names Tim Polega as VP of solar energy solutions group

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 12:34 (Solarserver)

On May 15th, 2012, Sharp Electronics Corp. (Mahwah, New Jersey, U.S.) announced that it has named Tim Polega as vice president (VP) of the company's solar energy solutions group. Polega will be responsible for all U.S. sales and marketing of the company' solar energy products and solutions. He will report to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Toshiyuki Osawa. Read more

Phoenix Solar publishes 2011 results: margins improve in 1Q 2012

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 12:12 (Solarserver)

On May 15th, 2012 Phoenix Solar AG (Sulzemoos, Germany) released financial figures for the first quarter of 2012 and the full year 2011, reporting a 17% year-over-year increase in revenues to EUR 37.9 million (USD 48.3 million) a -2.9% operating margin, and net loss of EUR 1.2 million (USD 1.53 million) during the first quarter of 2012. Phoenix Solar had delayed publishing its 2011 financial results while waiting for finalization of a new loan agreement. The company reported a 38% decline in revenues to EUR 393 million (USD 501 million), a -22% operating margin and net loss of EUR 86.4 million (USD 110 million) over the course of 2011. Read more

Konarka and Dri-Design present integrated solar panel

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 12:10 (PV-Tech)

Konarka Technologies and Dri-Design have announced the result of their collaboration to integrate Konarka?s solar panels into Dri-Design?s metal rainscreen panels. It is the first application of its kind and the panels are used for façade installations. The panels will be utilized for BIPV installations and offer architects a range of possibilities of integrations into materials like glass, steel, fabrics or plastic. Read more

DECC considers moving FiT cut deadline

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 10:28 (Solarpowerportal)

The next round of feed-in tariff cuts could be delayed by up to one month as a result of low solar installation figures. This could change the results of the latest consultation, which was due to map out the expected tariff rates from July 1. Read more

Proposed New Jersey Solar Bill May Not Solve SREC Woes

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 1:01 (Renewable Energy World)

Senators Bob Smith and Stephen Sweeny recently introduced New Jersey Senate Bill 1925. The bill proposes to amend New Jersey's current solar Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requirements in an attempt to help stabilize the oversupplied SREC market. The bill is currently in draft form and is scheduled to be heard Read more

Are IT Data Centers Emerging as a 'Killer App' for Green Power? Part 1

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 22:39 (Renewable Energy World)

Last month, Greenpeace launched a series of coordinated protests at Amazon, Apple and Microsoft locations to draw attention to the companies’ use of GHG intensive fuels in powering their data centers.  The protests were a follow up to their recently released report, “How Clean is Your Cloud,” which criticized the companies fo Read more

NHBC: Energy efficient homes could cut annual bills in half

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 17:15 (Solarpowerportal)

Research published by the National House Building Council (NHBC) and Zero Carbon Hub has revealed that new homes built to current regulations cost 55 percent less to run than typical ?upgraded? Victorian homes.  Read more

Mission Critical: A Clean Energy Call to Arms

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 17:13 (Renewable Energy World)

They say nothing can get done in Washington, D.C. on the issue of clean energy, which has become a political lightening rod over the last year. With Congress at a high watermark of partisanship, accusations abound on Capitol Hill that American energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and the policies that support them are job killers and a money-wasting hoax on taxpayers. And yet, there's reason for optimism about energy innovation in this country. Why? Because the most powerful force in the world, the U.S. military, is mobilizing on a clean energy mission ? and I believe they're going to win this war. Read more

Lux Research publishes report on sustainable architectural coatings

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 16:43 (PV-Tech)

Research service company Lux Research has recently published its ?Painting a Green Future: Opportunities in Sustainable Architectural Coatings? report as part of the Lux Research Sustainable Building Materials service. The report focuses on the US$53 billion architectural coatings market and the sustainability of coating technologies. Read more

Five Shining Examples of Renewable Energy Innovation and Investment

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 14:34 (Renewable Energy World)

Sinking revenues and shrinking policy support may be causing a bit of a haze on the renewable energy horizon, but there's plenty of sunshine trying to peek through if you look hard enough. Read more

Report: UK fuel poverty is beginning to decrease

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 12:07 (Solarpowerportal)

According to the 2012 Annual Report on Fuel Poverty Statistics the number of households in fuel poverty is beginning to decrease. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has today published data results for England in 2010, and an estimated level of fuel poverty in the entire UK in 2010. Read more

CCC: Local authority action is crucial to meeting emission targets

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 12:03 (Solarpowerportal)

A new report by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) maps out the critical role local authorities must play in helping Britain meet its ambitious carbon reduction targets. Read more

National Grid posts strong full-year results

Thursday, 5.17.2012 - 10:54 (Solarpowerportal)

The National Grid, Britain?s largest energy distributor, has released its full-year results for 2011. Read more